Hezbollah Leader's Assassination Sparks Outrage in Beirut as Israel Escalates Attacks
Image Source: Internet
A sea of mourners gathered in Beirut's southern suburbs on Monday to honor the memory of Hezbollah military commander Haytham Ali Tabtabai, killed in an Israeli strike over the weekend. The targeted assassination has raised fears of a renewed Israeli escalation, just a day after Lebanon marked its Independence Day. The attack has also sparked widespread outrage against Israel and the United States, which have been pressuring Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah. As the funeral procession made its way through the city, chants of 'We will not leave our weapons, we will not leave our land!' echoed through the streets. Top Hezbollah officials attended the funeral, but it remains unclear if any military leaders were present. The Israeli strike marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which has been simmering since the 2023 Gaza war. The U.S.-brokered ceasefire in 2024 was meant to bring an end to the fighting, but Israel has continued to launch near-daily strikes on Lebanon, targeting what it claims are Hezbollah arms depots and fighters. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has vowed to continue the policy of maximum enforcement in Lebanon, warning that anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have their hand cut off. Israel has also been gathering intelligence on Hezbollah's activities using surveillance drones, sparking concerns among the group's supporters about the use of advanced technologies such as facial recognition. Analysts warn that Israel's strategy of targeting Hezbollah's leadership is a deliberate attempt to 'peel off' the group's next generation, leaving it vulnerable to attack. As tensions continue to rise, the future of Lebanon and the region hangs in the balance.
